Origin of the Federation Flag

The Commonwealth Games Federation itself uses a flag different from the
Ceremonial flag. When the new seal was voted upon in 2001, both the Ceremonial
Flag and Games Federation Flag was changed to reflect the new seal (see
below). This flag is used at the Headquarters of the Commonwealth Games
Federation in London, at other locations whenever the Federation meets,
and at the Commonwealth Games itself, though is placed in a location to
avoid confusion with the Ceremonial Flag.
As both the new Ceremonial Flag and the new Games Federation Flag were
quite similar to each other, this caused confusion at the Opening Ceremony
of the XVII Commonwealth Games (Manchester, England), when the Federation
Flag was mistakenly raised, instead of the Ceremonial Flag. This
mixup was resolved in time for the Closing Ceremony, when the correct flag
was lowered and handed over to the Premier of the State of Victoria (Australia),
where the XVIII Games will be held in 2006 (Melbourne).
(Source: Graham Bartram, XVII
Games Vexillologist )
Dean Thomas, 7 August 2002

This flag was based on the Ceremonial flag of the British Empire and
Commonwealth Games (by use of the 1966-2001 seal on a white background
and a red-white-blue border). Some variants of this flag had the
red-white-blue border in a diagonal "barber-pole" pattern.
Dean Thomas, 7 August 2002